Insulated step-joint.



PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

G. A. WEBER. INSULATEDSTBP JOINT.

No. 782,936. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

G. A. WEBER. INSULATED STEP JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1a, 1903.

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No. 782,936. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

G. A.'WEBER.

INSULATED STEP JOINT.

APPLICATION IILED MAR. 13, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

GEORGE A. WVEBER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE IVEBER RAILWAY JOINT MANUFAOTURIN G COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

INSULATED STEP-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,936, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed March 13, 1903. Serial No. 147,613.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that LGEoRen A.WEBER,acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and-State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Insulated Step-Joints, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

My invention relates to rail-joints, but more particularly to insulated joints of the class known as step-joints.

The objects of my invention are to improve upon the construction of such joints and increase their efliciency.

Further objects of my invention are to simplify the construction of such insulated stepjoints and secure strength with simplicity of parts and high insulating qualities.

Other objects of my invention will hereinafter appear; and to these ends my invention consists of an insulated step-joint embodying the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in this specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a" railjoint embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the joint on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. iis a transverse sectional view on the line i i of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of a form of joint embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, A and B represent the meeting ends of railroad-rail sections, in this instance the rails being of different weights, as shown, the rail A being heavier than B and having a thicker head and web portion. According to the conditions to be met,

it will be seen that the base of the lighter rail B must be blocked up to bringythe rails into surface and alinement, and according to my invention suitable means are provided for insulating one rail-section from theother, in combination with apparatus and devices for maintaining the rails in surface and alineme nt.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the rails A and B are suitably supported upon an angle-chair O, having a base D and upright or bolt-plate E. The angle-chair is provided with a strengtheningfillet or spiking-rib F, extending longitudinally of the chair at the juncture of the base and upright.

Suitable insulating material G may be inserted between the faces of the meeting ends of the rails to insulate the face of one rail from the face of the other and aid in maintaining the rails separated one from the other, although, if desired, the insulation G may be omitted and an air-space left between the faces of the ends of the rails.

As shown, a layer or sheet H of suitable insulating material is provided between the base of the heavier rail A and the base D of the angle-chair, while another layer of insulating material I is provided between the base of the lighter rail B and a supporting-block J, arranged upon the base D of the angle-chair and constructed to support the rails A and B in surface. Suitable means are provided for maintaining the rails in alinement, as shown, filling-blocks K and L being arranged at each side of the joint between the webs of the rails and the upright of the angle-chair at one side and between the webs of the rails at the other side and a metallic strengthening-bar Q. As shown in this instance, these filling-blocks are of wood and extend continuously across the joint longitudinally of the webs of the rails. They are constructed to fit between the bases and heads of the rails and maintain the rails firmly in surface and alinement. It is also obvious that instead of inserting a sheet or plate of metal J beneath the base of the lighter rail B said rail may be supported upon a plurality of cleats O, as in Fig. 5. These cleats O may extend transversely of the base of the rail-chair, and there may be any desired number of cleats, in this instance there being two shown. It is not absolutely necessary that insulation be provided beneath the bases of both rails, for according to my construction,

as will hereinafter appear, it will be obvious that insulation will be obtained with insulating material beneath the base of but one of the rails, as in Fig. 5, so that the insulation H or I may be omitted beneath one orthe other of the rails;

Suitable bolts P are adapted to secure the parts of the joint together, and, as shown, these bolts are suitably insulated from the metallic portions of the joint by suitable insulating-sleeves R and washers S. Metallic washers T are arranged adjacent the heads U of the bolts and the nuts V. Means are provided for suitably maintaining the insulation H or 1 in position upon the base of the anglechair or beneath the base of the rail B, in this instance the insulation being bent upwardly and extending along the inner face of the upright of the angle-chair, so that when the parts of the joint are clamped together by tightening up the nuts V the insulation H or I will be securely clamped between the lilling block or blocks and the upright of the rail-chair. 1 am not to be understood as limiting myself to these means of maintaining the insulation H or 1 in position, for other suitable means may be provided as desired.

It will be seen that according to my invention my insulated joint comprises a rail-chair provided with a base or bridge plate and an upright or bolt plate, while the base or bridge plate is provided with additional metal J or O O at one end thereof. As hereinbefore stated, insulating material H or J may be provided between one of the rail ends and said bridge-plate. A strengthening-bar or metal band Q is arranged at one side of the joint and separated from the chair and opposing the bolt-plate or upright of the chair, said band Q, as shown, extending across the joint. Filling-blocks of insulating material are arranged one between the upright or bolt plate of the chair and the rail ends and the other between the band or strengthening-bar Q and the rail ends, both of said blocks extending across the joint, while a plurality of bolts extend through the bolt-plate, insulating-blocks, rail ends, and band, said bolts being suitably insulated by insulating bushings and washers. Means are provided for maintaining the rail ends from contact with each other, in this instance the insulating material G between the rail ends being provided with this end in view. Obviously some features of my invention may be used without others and my invention may be embodied in widely-varying forms.

Therefore without limiting myself to the construction shown and described nor en u merating equivalents, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

' 1. An insulated rail-joint comprisinga railchair having a bridge-plate and a bolt-plate, said bridge-plate being provided with addi- )iODtl metal at one end thereof, insulating material between one of the rail ends and said bridge-plate, a metal band separated from the chair and opposing said bolt-plate and extending across the joint, two insulating-blocks, one between said bolt-plate and the rail ends and the other between said band and the rail ends and both extending across the joint, a plurality of bolts extending through the bolt-plate, insulating-blocks, rail ends, and band, insulating-bushings adapted to insulate every of said bolts passing through the rail'end insulated from said bridge-plate from both said bolt-plate and said band, and means of maintaining the rail ends from contact with each other, for substantially the purposes set forth.

2. An insulated rail-joint comprising a railcliair having a bridge-plate and a bolt-plate, said bridge-plate being provided with additional metal at one end thereof, insulating material between one of the rail ends and said bridge-plate, means of holding said insulating material in proper position on said bridge-plate, a metal band separated from the chair and opposing said bolt-plate and extending across the joint, two insulating-blocks, one between said bolt-plate and the rail ends and the other between said band and the rail ends and both extending across the joint, a plurality of bolts extending through the bolt-plate, insulating-blocks, rail ends, and band, insulating-bushings adapted to insulate every of said bolts passing through the rail end insulated from said bridge-plate from both said bolt-plate and said band, and means of maintaining the rail ends from contact with each other, for substantially the purposes set forth.

3. An insulated rail-joint, comprising in combination with rails of different weight and size, a base-plate provided with means for supporting the rails in surface and alinement, insulating material beneath the base of at least one of the rails, filling-blocks at each side of the webs of the rails, a strengthening-band extending across the joint at one side of the same, bolts for securing the parts of the joint together, and means for insulating said bolts from the metallic parts of the joint, for substantially the purposes set forth.

4L. An insulated rail-joint, comprisingarailchair having a bridge-plate and a bolt-plate, rails of different weight and size supported by the chair, the base of said chair being provided with means for supporting the rails in surface and alinement, filling-blocks arranged at each side of the webs of the rails, a strengthening-band extending across the joint on the side opposite the bolt-plate, insulating material beneath the base of at least one of the rails, bolts for securing the parts of the'joint together, and means for insulating said bolts from the metallic parts of the joint, for substantially the purposes set forth.

5. An insulated rail-joint, comprising in combination with rails of different weight and means for supporting the rails in surface and the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

alinement, and means for insulating one rail from the other, for substantially the purposes set forth.

6. An insulated rail-joint, comprising in combination With rails of different Weight and size, asuitable equalizing-plate provided with I said rails from each other, for substantially I0 I l GEORGE A. WEBER.

Witnesses size, means for supporting said rails in sur- E. VAN ZANDT,- face and alinement, and means for insulating A. L. OBRIEN. 

